Evan Gershkovich, Wall Street Journal reporter, challenges prolonged pretrial detention in Russia.
Journalist Evan Gershkovich Appeals Pretrial Detention in Russia
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has filed an appeal against a Moscow court’s decision to extend his pretrial detention in Russia until the end of November, according to documents on the court’s website.
Gershkovich, an American journalist, was arrested in March during a work trip to Yekaterinburg, located 1,200 miles east of Moscow. He is the first U.S. journalist since the Soviet era to be held on espionage charges in Russia.
The custody order that allowed Gershkovich to be held before trial was set to expire on August 30. However, the Moscow City Court extended the order by three months, which drew objections from U.S. government officials and the Journal.
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On Saturday, the court’s website revealed that Gershkovich’s defense team had submitted an appeal. In June, the court had previously rejected his appeal to be released from custody by the end of August.
During the proceedings on Thursday, journalists were not permitted to witness the hearing, which was held behind closed doors due to the classified nature of the criminal case, according to Russian state agency TASS.
The Federal Security Service, Russia’s main internal security agency, has accused Gershkovich of collecting classified information about a Russian military-industrial complex enterprise on behalf of the American side. However, both Gershkovich and his employer deny these allegations, and the U.S. government has declared his detention to be wrongful.
The Wall Street Journal issued a statement condemning Gershkovich’s “improper” detention and asserting that the accusations against him are baseless. They continue to advocate for his immediate release, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime.
Despite the challenging circumstances, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy reported that Gershkovich appeared to be in good health during her recent visit to him at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, known for its harsh conditions.
Gershkovich is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since 1986. Analysts suggest that Moscow may be using detained Americans as bargaining chips amid heightened tensions between the United States and Russia.
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